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A rebel councillor is refusing to step down after she turned on her former party to hand control of Woodley Town Council to the Conservatives.

Four decades of Liberal Democrat dominance in Woodley came to an end last week when Councillor Lesley Hayward cast the pivotal vote to pass power to its political rivals.

Liberal Democrats are calling for the Independent member, who left the party last month, to step down and fight a by-election. Cllr Hayward said: “I have voted with my conscience. I’m sending out literature for all the people who voted me in, informing them I am expecting great things now from the Tories. All the things I promised the electorate when they voted me in, I’m going to push for.

The council’s 11 Conservatives and two Independent councillors outvoted the Lib Dems’ 12 votes to elect Tory Cllr Bill Soane as town mayor at Tuesday’s annual meeting, with Cllr Keith Baker appointed the leader of the council. Bulmershe Lib Dem Cllr Sam Rahmouni said: “Being an Independent is one thing, but supporting the Conservatives is something much worse. It is very arrogant of Cllr Hayward to think just because she changes her mind on which party she supports she can impose this on residents.

“I call on Lesley to resign and let Bulmershe have a by-election so residents can have their say on who runs the council.”

Cllr Ray Duncan, who missed out on a second year as mayor because of Cllr Hayward’s decisive vote, joined calls for a by-election.

He said: “I don’t mind being voted out if it’s the will of the electorate. It’s rather hard when it’s someone who was chair of the Woodley and Whitegates Liberal Democrat party only a month ago.”

Residents in Cllr Hayward’s ward aren’t happy she has been able to sway the political balance.

Derrick Rapley, 62, of Howth Drive, said: “It’s quite strange to have been there for all those years to then support the Conservatives.

“Her point of view from when she was elected as a Lib Dem will now be non-existent. I think there’s sound reason to ask her to step down.”

Celia Taylor, of Woodwaye, said: “I think people should have been able to have some say in this. She was voted in as a Lib Dem. People do vote for the party as much as the person.”

Newly elected council leader Cllr Keith Baker said the change has de-politicised the authority with many of the council's sub committees and working parties will be evenly split between the two major parties.

He said: "I think it's going to be beneficial for the residents of Woodley because it's a different governance model that many of them have never experienced before.

"We want and expect the Independent councillors to stop any excesses from either parties."